ABSTRACT
This chapter places academic North American and European public policy programmes in a comparative context and provides an overview of the status of these programmes as pipelines for advancing policy analysis and policy research in light of domestic and global developments. In this comparative examination, four key themes have been identified for exploration across each region: the historical background of policy analysis and research in light of the nature and scope of US influence; the development of differences and similarities in policy analysis and research, and what might explain them; the roles and impacts of 'experiential learning' tools such as co-ops and internships; and the roles and impacts of accreditation bodies. Western Europe and Canada, with more established traditions of their own, have been more particular in adopting elements of the US context. Western Europe has so far retained much of its policy analysis and research in a variety of academic homes that are not universally or explicitly policy focused.
